A new study published in the recent issue of the journalPediatricsconcluded that girls exposed to BPA (bisphenol-A) while in utero showed a greater risk of exhibiting behaviors including hyperactivity, anxiousness, aggressiveness and depression than boys.

The study conducted by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina, the National Center for Environmental Health, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati and the British Columbia Children’s Hospital is the first study to conclude that BPA exposure in utero may play a more significant role in developmental risks than postbirth exposure.

Urine samples collected from nearly 250 women during pregnancy and again at the time of their children’s birth showed BPA in 84 percent of the women’s samples and in 96 percent of the children’s samples. Because BPA is an estrogenic endocrine disruptor affecting hormones, the study found that a strong correlation exists between BPA levels and behavioral issues in females affected by estrogen levels.

This is not the first study to look at BPA’s health risks. It has been linked to thyroid issues, obesity, diabetes and certain types of cancer and fertility issues.

BPA exposure can come from a number of food product containers including canned soda, soups and plastics. BPA is an organic compound used in making polycarbonate and epoxy resin and contains phenol compounds.

Canada was the first country to declare BPA a toxin and France has recently pushed legislation requiring labeling of any products containing BPA. The FDA has stated that regulating BPA would be an unwarranted undertaking despite the mounting scientific evidence about its health risks, arguing that there still remain uncertainties about its safety.